NL Schools have shared information with parents and families surrounding the upcoming solar eclipse around 4 p.m. next Monday.
The eclipse will partially, or completely block the light from the sun for a few minutes, with a number of areas of the province in the path of totality—an event not to be seen again in this part of the world until 2079.
Looking directly at the sun can lead to severe and permanent eye damage, so for those who want to gaze directly at the event, approved solar viewing glasses are required.
Approved glasses are those that meet the ISO 12312-2 international filter safety standard for direct observation of the sun. Regular sunglasses are not sufficient. Any glasses received by students during a third-party presentation at school are understood to meet that safety standard.
Another thing to remember is that prolonged exposure to the sun, even during an eclipse can be harmful to your eyes. Students are encouraged to take a break and limit their viewing time to reduce the risk of eye damage.
Meanwhile, the eclipse can also be enjoyed indirectly with the use of pinhole projectors or through an eclipse livestream available on reputable websites.
Kate Murphy
Meanwhile, Kate Murphy, a science interpreter at the Johnson Geo Centre and MUN Botanical Garden says it is important for people choosing to view the solar eclipse to give their viewers a once-over before taking in the phenomenon.
She says to make sure solar glasses are free of any damage—such as bends or twists to the outer casing, and scratches to the filtered lens.
